A lot happened before Guyana claimed their independence in 1966. The Dutch were the first to settle in Guyana. But there was people already in Guyana. The Dutch used the people as slaves at places like sugarcane plantations. They even brought more slaves into Guyana. The slaves of course didn’t like they this. There were many rebellions against the Dutch, but that didn’t really help them. That is, until Cuffy came along. Cuffy was a slave like all the rest, he was raised on a plantation. Most of the other slaves looked up to him as a leader. He planned a rebellion. Everyone followed him. He first attacked private plantations, and then spread to attacking more public areas. He chased most of the home owners off, and told them he would spare them if they left on a boat. He went back to his plantation where he grew up and stole his owner’s wife making her his own. On May 26, 1966 they finally were an independent country. They became a republic country on February 23, 1970. Ten years later, May 26, 1980, they created their constitution.
Culture
· 75,000 people live in Guyana · 51% of the population is east Indian, 43% are afro- Guyanese, 4% are Amerindians and 2 percent are Europeans and Chinese and Americans. · The language they use most is English, but there are also other languages · Guyanese people make dishes and eat things like seafood and spicy
Guyanese Food
dishes · They enjoy alcoholic beverages, and fruit punches · They have art that they display in Georgetown · They play cricket and soccer. · Most people are Hindu or Muslim and others are Christian or Black Muslim · About 90% of the people that live in Guyanna live on the costal plains · They give tours of their forests
·
2010 Holidays · 1 Jan New Year's Day. · 23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani). · 26 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). · 28 Feb - 1 Mar Phagwah (Holi). · 2 Apr Good Friday. · 5 Apr Easter Monday. · 1 May Labour Day. · 5 May Indian Heritage Day. · 26 May Independence Day. · 5 Jul Caricom Day. · 2 Aug Freedom Day. · 11 Sep Eid Al Fitr. · 5 Nov Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light). · 17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). · 25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas. 2011 holidays · 1 Jan New Year's Day. · 15 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). · 23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani). · 19 Mar - 20 Mar Phagwah (Holi). · 22 Apr Good Friday. · 25 Apr Easter Monday.
The have an executive branch, legislative branch, and a Judical Branch.
Executive Branch
Chief of state- President Bharrat JAGDEO ( since August 11,1999 )
Head of Government- Preime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
Cabinet- cabinet of minister is appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature.
Election- President elected by popular vote, prime minister is appointed by the President.
Legislature Branch
Unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by popular vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers and 2 non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
Election- last election held was on August 28, 2006. The next one will be in August 2011.
Judical Branch
Supreme court of Judicature, consisting of High Court and the court of appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Guyana's president, Bharrat JAGDEO, in an interview
Economy
·
Guyana’s economy was in dire condition in the early 1990s. · When Guyana earned its independence in 1966, it was one of the least developed countries in the Western Hemosphere.· Output of sugar, rice, and bauxnite (Guyana's 3 biggest products) fell sharply in the 1970-1980s. · In 1990, the GDP (gross domestic product) was only 275 million $US. · Per capita, the GDP was less than 396 $US, making Guyana the poorest country in the Western Hemosphere. · In 1990, an estimated 40% made 0.50 $US per day. · In 1991, Guyana’s economy was still far from recovery, but the Hoyte government cut the budget deficit, removed most price controls, legalized foreign currency training, encouraged foreign investment, and begun privatizing state-owned companies. In early 1991, the official and market exchange rates were unified for the first time since independence. · Economic reform still faces obsticals. o The IMF had refinanced the debt, propping up the financial side of the economy.§ Guyana needed loans, even though the amount of money owed was a lot. o The social cost of the government’s austerity plan is another obstical.o Guyana needed international assistance for humanitarian and econimcal reasons. · The economic reform program posed two challenges: to maintain political initiative at home and to garner the continued support of international financial community. Economy. 2003 Country Studies. May 11, 2010 http://countrystudies.us/guyana/53.htm.
· Inflation 12% p.a.· Gross National Product (GNP) 641 million $US· Exchange rates against $US over 1 year 179 Guyana dollars · World GNP Rating 163rd · GNP Per Capita 840 $US · Balance of Payments 117 million $US · Inflation 5.3% · Unemployment Rate 12% · Diverse Exports gold, rice, diamonds, bauxite, timber· Exports Jamaica 5%, Portugal 5%, UK 13%, USA 22%, Canada 26%, Other 29%· Imports UK 5%, Italy 7%, Netherlands Antilles 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 16%, USA 25%, Other 33% Guyana Economics. 2004 World Desk Reference. 5.11.10 <http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/GY/economics.html>.Geogaphy
: · Geography:
· They are located 5 00 N, 59 00 W. · Guyana is in South America. · There is 214,969 sq km. · They are slightly smaller than Idaho. · The weather is humid and hot. · They produce bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, and fish. · Their highest elevation Mount Roraima 2,835 m. · The environmental problems water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation.
· Some famous landmarks are Fort Nassau, Fort Nova Zeelandia, and St George’s Cathedral.
Welcome To Guyana!
Go here for basic info on Guyana http://www.historycentral.com/nationbynation/Guyana/index.html History
Play this to have the history of Guyana read to you!
A lot happened before Guyana claimed their independence in 1966. The Dutch were the first to settle in Guyana. But there was people already in Guyana. The Dutch used the people as slaves at places like sugarcane plantations. They even brought more slaves into Guyana. The slaves of course didn’t like they this. There were many rebellions against the Dutch, but that didn’t really help them. That is, until Cuffy came along. Cuffy was a slave like all the rest, he was raised on a plantation. Most of the other slaves looked up to him as a leader. He planned a rebellion. Everyone followed him. He first attacked private plantations, and then spread to attacking more public areas. He chased most of the home owners off, and told them he would spare them if they left on a boat. He went back to his plantation where he grew up and stole his owner’s wife making her his own. On May 26, 1966 they finally were an independent country. They became a republic country on February 23, 1970. Ten years later, May 26, 1980, they created their constitution.
Culture
· 75,000 people live in Guyana
· 51% of the population is east Indian, 43% are afro- Guyanese, 4% are Amerindians and 2 percent are Europeans and Chinese and Americans.
· The language they use most is English, but there are also other languages
· Guyanese people make dishes and eat things like seafood and spicy
· They enjoy alcoholic beverages, and fruit punches
· They have art that they display in Georgetown
· They play cricket and soccer.
· Most people are Hindu or Muslim and others are Christian or Black Muslim
· About 90% of the people that live in Guyanna live on the costal plains
· They give tours of their forests
·
2010 Holidays
· 1 Jan New Year's Day.
· 23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani).
· 26 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
· 28 Feb - 1 Mar Phagwah (Holi).
· 2 Apr Good Friday.
· 5 Apr Easter Monday.
· 1 May Labour Day.
· 5 May Indian Heritage Day.
· 26 May Independence Day.
· 5 Jul Caricom Day.
· 2 Aug Freedom Day.
· 11 Sep Eid Al Fitr.
· 5 Nov Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light).
· 17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
· 25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas.
2011 holidays
· 1 Jan New Year's Day.
· 15 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
· 23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani).
· 19 Mar - 20 Mar Phagwah (Holi).
· 22 Apr Good Friday.
· 25 Apr Easter Monday.
Holiday calender taken from:
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/111/public_holidays/South-America/Guyana.html
Government
Visit this site for more info
http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/guyana/GOVERNMENT.html
Economy
·
Guyana’s economy was in dire condition in the early 1990s. · When Guyana earned its independence in 1966, it was one of the least developed countries in the Western Hemosphere. · Output of sugar, rice, and bauxnite (Guyana's 3 biggest products) fell sharply in the 1970-1980s. · In 1990, the GDP (gross domestic product) was only 275 million $US. · Per capita, the GDP was less than 396 $US, making Guyana the poorest country in the Western Hemosphere. · In 1990, an estimated 40% made 0.50 $US per day. · In 1991, Guyana’s economy was still far from recovery, but the Hoyte government cut the budget deficit, removed most price controls, legalized foreign currency training, encouraged foreign investment, and begun privatizing state-owned companies. In early 1991, the official and market exchange rates were unified for the first time since independence. · Economic reform still faces obsticals. o The IMF had refinanced the debt, propping up the financial side of the economy. § Guyana needed loans, even though the amount of money owed was a lot. o The social cost of the government’s austerity plan is another obstical. o Guyana needed international assistance for humanitarian and econimcal reasons. · The economic reform program posed two challenges: to maintain political initiative at home and to garner the continued support of international financial community. Economy. 2003 Country Studies. May 11, 2010 http://countrystudies.us/guyana/53.htm.
· Inflation 12% p.a. · Gross National Product (GNP) 641 million $US · Exchange rates against $US over 1 year 179 Guyana dollars · World GNP Rating 163rd · GNP Per Capita 840 $US · Balance of Payments 117 million $US · Inflation 5.3% · Unemployment Rate 12% · Diverse Exports gold, rice, diamonds, bauxite, timber · Exports Jamaica 5%, Portugal 5%, UK 13%, USA 22%, Canada 26%, Other 29% · Imports UK 5%, Italy 7%, Netherlands Antilles 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 16%, USA 25%, Other 33% Guyana Economics. 2004 World Desk Reference. 5.11.10 <http://dev.prenhall.com/divisions/hss/worldreference/GY/economics.html>. Geogaphy
:· Geography:
· They are located 5 00 N, 59 00 W.· Guyana is in South America.
· There is 214,969 sq km.
· They are slightly smaller than Idaho.
· The weather is humid and hot.
· They produce bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, and fish.
· Their highest elevation Mount Roraima 2,835 m.
· The environmental problems water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation.
· Some famous landmarks are Fort Nassau, Fort Nova Zeelandia, and St George’s Cathedral.